Manning, 24, faces more than 20 criminal charges, including aiding the enemy and espionage. While the charges could bring the death penalty, prosecutors have said they will only seek life in prison, reported Reuters. Manning allegedly downloaded more than 700,000 secret government files that led to WikiLeaks disclosures, such as those related to diplomatic cables and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Computer Business Review noted that the judge's ruling is just one more example of why "the protection of civil liberties needs to be clarified in light of the digital age and civil rights in relation to technology needs to taken into consideration...The growth of social media and the voice it provides has caught the attention of many governments. Thus, the rights of private citizens needed to be extended and established in the technological sphere."

1 comment

Whatever happened to good ol hard justice. I mean, this dude committed treason and we want to take it easy on him. I know some will suggest that life in prison is not easy, but face the fact that he will be protected, fed, showered, and living in relative ease until such time as he grows old on the taxpayer's dime.

Do like they used to do in the old days and relieve us from this burden...

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